Julian Cousins, My Tennis Teaching.

I started my teaching career at the world famous Bollettieri Academy in Florida as an apprentice. Since then over many years of teaching tennis has shown me that there are some common misconceptions about the game of tennis and how people learn.

Too often coaching can be “my way or the highway” attitude. Now there are some basic physics (e.g. gravity!) that must be complied to but beyond that, a wide range of techniques and styles will work. Think about the differences between some of the great players; Sampras and Agassi, Graf and Seles – but despite their differences they had the skills required to be great.

Those skills are:-

1. Reading the ball and getting to it in good time.

2. Regaining your balance and selecting the correct shot.

3. Executing that shot with the correct direction and speed.

4. Recovering your position in time for the next ball.

If that sounds complicated then think about your first driving lesson – steering wheel, pedals, mirrors, signals oh and you’re moving in a restricted area with other cars coming towards you! Now that’s complicated but now you probably manage this without a problem and chatting all at the same time! It’s simply a matter of training yourself to do a series of simple actions in the right order at the right time.

These are the skills that we will be working on in our lessons whether it be group or private format. Now go out there and practise because you can’t buy that!

Qualified to professional tour level with the United States Professional Tennis Association  and the Registry of Tennis Professionals, Spain.  Licensed coach with the Lawn Tennis Association.

Personal sport trainer with Etcheberry Experience.

Lecturer in Sports Science and Physiology

NSPCC Protection of Children in Sport certificated, holder of current CRB and First Aid certificate.